“Equal Status”

Philippians 1: 1: “Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons;” In a blow against clericalism (or overclericalization, if you will), St. Paul addresses this epistle to all the saints first, only afterward mentioning the bishops and deacons. In some places today this letter wouldn’t even get read, because it doesn’t observe the proper protocol of addressing higher ranking clergy first. But apparently St. Paul wasn’t hung up on that. Should we be?